A buffer is a substance that stabilizes pH.
Buffers are crucial in various chemical and biological processes. They are typically solutions that can resist changes in pH when small amounts of an acid or base are added. This is achieved through the presence of weak acids and their conjugate bases (or vice versa), which can neutralize added acids or bases. For example, a common buffer system in biological systems is the bicarbonate buffer, which helps maintain stable pH levels in the blood. Understanding how buffers work is essential in fields such as biochemistry and environmental science, where maintaining specific pH levels can impact reactions and processes.